BY: Bernard Worlali Awumee
Stakeholders in the Anloga District have participated in a district-level advocacy and awareness-raising programme aimed at promoting disability-friendly policies and laws.
The engagement, held on Friday, January 23, at the Anloga District Assembly, brought together key actors to deepen understanding of disability inclusion and strengthen advocacy for the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) within the district and beyond.
Madam Elikplim Klu, Regional President of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), in her welcome address, outlined the objective of the initiative, stating that the project seeks to strengthen the capacity of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to effectively promote inclusion in Ghana.
She noted that, “Despite notable progress over the years, persons with disabilities continue to encounter significant barriers that hinder their full participation in society. These challenges include physical, social, institutional, and attitudinal obstacles affecting access to education, employment, healthcare, governance, and other critical sectors.”
Madam Suzzy Sogbaka, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the Africa Disability Institute (ADI), made a presentation on the legal and policy frameworks governing disability issues in Ghana.
She highlighted key instruments such as the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2006 (Act 715), and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), while also addressing the persistent challenges in their effective implementation.
She stressed the critical role of the media in fostering a disability-friendly environment, urging media practitioners to promote positive, rights-based reporting, avoid stereotypes and harmful language, and amplify the voices and lived realities of persons with disabilities.
Participants with disabilities shared personal experiences, offering practical insights into the daily challenges they face and the gaps that still exist in service delivery and inclusion.
The forum also generated recommendations on practical measures for sustaining a disability-friendly environment at the community and institutional levels.
The project is spearheaded by the GFD, in partnership with the ADI and the Mental Health Society of Ghana, with funding support from the European Union.
About 30 participants benefited from the programme, including leaders of PWD Associations in the Anloga District, officials from the Ghana Health Service, National Commission on Civic Education, Ghana Education Service, National Health Insurance Authority.
Others were from the Youth Employment Agency, members of the media, traditional leaders, the Anloga District Chief Executive, Madam Sandra Kepdor, and Mr Joseph Kpattah, Presiding Member of the Anloga District Assembly, among others.
Mama Dzotsi II, who chaired the programme, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the training was impactful and commended the organisers for the initiative.
She pledged to extend disability inclusion education to traditional council members and gatherings within the district.
Checks by the GNA indicated that the Department of Social Welfare in the Anloga District has made commendable progress in promoting inclusion for PWDs.
However, their efforts require intensified sensitisation and public education to address existing gaps and strengthen inclusive practices.
